Somali leader urges help to avert famine

UNITED NATIONS – Somalia's president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed is urging the world to help avert a massive famine saying almost half the population is facing acute food shortages and 15 percent are facing famine now.

Mohamed told the U.N. Security Council by videolink from Mogadishu Thursday that Somalis are resilient and would be the last to ask for help but drought has spawned a humanitarian crisis that could threaten the country's political and security gains.

The United Nations said Wednesday that the $864 million U.N. humanitarian appeal for Somalia is only 31 percent funded.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited Somalia last week and presided over the meeting. He said the country is facing its third famine in 25 years and over 6 million people — about half the population — need help.